High performance three-wheeled skates

ABSTRACT

The three-wheeled skates system employs a conventional boot as used in in-line skates to which is attached a frame from toe to heel supporting a single wheel at the toe and a spaced pair of wheels sharing a common axle at the heel, the wheels being of the same type used in in-line skates. A mechanical braking system uses a handgrip lever controlling a brake actuator lever by Bowden-type sheath and cables. The brake actuator lever rotates about an axle, which applies the pressure of attached brakes for speed control. The rear axle is confined in generally frustroconical elastomeric elements and held within receiving bores within the heel portion of the frame, allowing the boot to lean inward relative to the wheels during a turn. The cant of the boot is adjustable from a cruising angle to a speed angle by settings of the front wheel on the toe frame.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/614,469, filed Oct. 1, 2004.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to roller skates. More particularly, thepresent invention relates to high-performance three-wheeled skateshaving hand-operated brakes.

2. Description of the Related Art

The use of in-line skates is widespread, and capable of substantialspeeds. They require, however, a learning period for their effective useand the learner is subject to repeated falls and resultant injuries.They also require a continuous level of attention, reducing theirenjoyment when the skater desires to relax and cruise. The brakes aregenerally rubber wedge brakes mounted at the heel or toe that requiresubstantial skill in their effective use. It would be desirable toprovide a skate which is useful in the learning process of usinghigh-performance skates while reducing the risk of falls and resultinginjuries to the skater. It would also be desirable to provide a skatewhich is more relaxing for cruising, requiring less attention by theskater, while providing high performance capabilities when desired. Itwould also be desirable to provide effective braking which is effectiveunder high-performance conditions and does not require the skater tolift a portion of a skate to use a conventional brake. Three-wheeledskates are known which provide the user with a relative safe means oflearning to skate, however known three-wheeled skates are not capable ofhigh-performance use and have marginal brake systems if at all. Athree-wheeled skate is desired capable of high performance and providinga reliable and easily used brake system for use as a step towardproficiency in using in-line skates, and for cruising where constantattention to skating is not required. It would further be desirable ifsuch a skate had high-performance capabilities and advanced corneringability over known three-wheeled skates.

French Patent No. 2,556,228, published Jun. 14, 1985, describesthree-wheeled roller skates whose wheels can be inclined laterally onturns in a manner that the weight of the user offsets the centrifugalforce and allowing the user to turn while the skater's soles remainparallel to the pane of the wheels.

German Patent No. 19,833,653, published Feb. 10, 2000, describes athree-wheeled roller skate having a support platform onto which is fixeda show support and having two front wheels on a common axle and atrailing rear wheel, the front wheels being fitted to a sub frame whichpivots allowing the front wheels to adapt to ground contours and turns.

None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or incombination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thusthree-wheeled skates solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The three-wheeled skates of the present invention both provide alearning skate platform for advancement to in-line skates and a skateuseful in itself for relaxing cruising and speed as desired. Thethree-wheeled skates of the present invention employ a conventional bootas used in in-line skates to which is attached from toe to heel a framesupporting a single wheel at the toe and a spaced pair of wheels sharinga common axle at the heel, the wheels being of the same type used inin-line skates. A mechanical braking system is provided using a handgriplever controlling a brake actuator lever by means of Bowden type sheathand cables. The brake actuator lever rotates an axle, which applies thepressure of attached wheel-conforming friction brakes, thus controllingspeed as desired by handgrip action of the skater. The rear axle isconfined in generally frustroconical elastomeric elements and heldthereby within conforming receiving bores within the heel portion of theframe, allowing the boot to lean inward relative to the axle and wheelsupon executing a turn and thus providing for improved tracking of thewheels around the turn. The cant of the boot is adjustable from acruising angle to a more canted speed angle by settings of the frontwheel relative to the toe frame, thus allowing for relaxing cruising orspeed skating.

It is an aspect of the invention to provide improved elements andarrangements thereof for the purposes described which is inexpensive,dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.

These and other aspects of the present invention will become readilyapparent upon further review of the following specification anddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of high-performancethree-wheeled skates according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view, partially cut away, of a skate as inFIG. 1 at touring setting.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of a skate as in FIG. 1 at speedsetting.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of a skate as in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a lower exploded view of the frame, wheels, brake system andbrake control system of a skate as in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a detail view of the brake control system and support belt ofthe skate of FIG. 1.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistentlythroughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is a three-wheeled skate employing a conventionalboot as used in in-line skates to which is attached from toe to heel aframe supporting a single wheel at the toe and a spaced pair of wheelssharing a common axle at the heel, the wheels being of the same typeused in in-line skates. A mechanical braking system is provided using ahandgrip lever controlling a brake actuator lever by means of Bowdentype sheath and cables. The brake actuator lever rotates an axle, whichapplies the pressure of attached wheel-conforming friction brakes, thuscontrolling speed as desired by handgrip action of the skater.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an environmental perspective view ofthe present inventive three-wheeled skates and braking system referredto generally by 10. The system 10 is worn by a skater S withthree-wheeled skates 12 worn on legs L, the brake control system 14being supported for operation near the skater's hand H on his waist W.

Referring to FIGS. 2-5, there is shown a side elevation view, partiallycut away, of the inventive skate and brake system in the cruisingconfiguration; a side elevation view of the inventive skate and brakesystem in the speed configuration; a bottom view of the inventive skate;and an exploded view of the inventive brakes, frame, and wheels of theinventive skate and brake system, respectively.

As best seen in FIG. 2, brake control system 14 includes hand leversystem 16 having grip handle 18 and a hand lever 20 for actuating thebrake system by squeezing together by the skater's hand H. Hand lever 20has a hand lever connection 22 and a pivot connection 30 for rotationrelative to brake control body 24 as mounted on grip handle 18. A pairof brake body cable sheath connectors and stops 28 attach to Bowden-typeactuating cables 32 which extend to respective skates 12 for operationof braking unit 34, as mounted on frame 36, in response to rotation ofhand lever 20. Frame 36 is mounted on boot 38 between boot toe 40 andboot heel 42, attached along sole 43 and at toe plates 44 and heelplates 48. Toe plates 44 are attached to the toe portion of sole 43 bytoe plate connectors 46, such as screws. Heel plates 48 are attached tothe heel portion of sole 43 by heel plate connectors 50 such as screws.

Frame 36 has a toe portion 52 extending forward of and downward fromboot toe 40. Front wheel 54 is mounted at toe portion 52 of frame 36,front wheel 54 being supported for rotation by front axle assembly 56.Toe portion 52 has two pairs of bores for mounting axle assembly 56, thefirst pair being cruising axle bores 58 as shown mounted in FIG. 2 andthe second pair being speed axle bores 60 located above and to the rearof axle bores 58 as shown mounted in FIG. 3. An alternativeconfiguration is shown in ghost lines in FIG. 5 where slots 61 take theplace of axle bores 58 and 60, providing a range of adjustments betweenthe cruising axle position and the speed axle position. Frame 36 hasheel portions 64 to which heel plates 48 are attached.

As best seen in FIG. 4, frame 36 is made up of side members 66 asattached by frame cross members 90 which provide spacing for mountingfront wheel 54 on axle assembly 56. The heel plates 48 of frame 36 asdefined by side members 66 are elevated relative to toe plates 44 toprovide a forward cant to boot 48.

As best seen in FIG. 2-4, rear axle assembly 70 is mounted on heelportion 64 of frame 36 and supports rear wheels 72 for rotation. Rearaxle assembly 70 includes a rear axle 110 (see FIG. 5), elastomericmountings 114, elastomeric mounting outer washers 116, elastomericmounting inner washers 118 and rear axle central spacer 120, the wheels72 being secured on rear axle 110 by threaded end cap nuts 122. Brakingunit 34 is actuated by cable 76, which extends beyond sheath connector74 mounted through the sole 43 of boot 38. Brake shoes 78 conform torear wheels 72 and are rotated to frictionally engage rear wheels 72,respectively, for speed control by braking unit 34.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, brake shoes 78 are attached at opposingends of actuating lever axle and brake shoe connector 82 upon whichbrake actuating lever 80 rotates in receiver bores 134 (see FIG. 5) offrame side members 66. Cable 76 is attached to brake actuating lever 80at cable attachment 86. Retraction of cable 76 rotates axle 82, forcingbrake shoes 78 against rear wheels 72 to accomplish the braking actionof braking unit 34. Brake release spring 84 is a tension coil springattached between lever spring attachment 87 and hooked over springanchor bar 88 extending between frame side members 66. Spring 84 iswrapped around the lower portion of lever axle 82 such that, uponretraction of cable 76, tension spring 84 is extended, pulling againstrotation braking rotation of lever 80. Upon release of cable 76, ascontrolled by brake control system 14 in the hand of skater S, tensionspring 84 pulls braking lever 80 downward, pulling cable 76 downward androtating brake shoes 78 away from engagement with rear wheels 72,freeing them to rotate freely. Braking power may be varied for desiredrates of slowing or resistance to accelerating (down hill) by varyingthe force of the squeezing pressure on the handgrip and hand lever ofthe brake control system 14.

Frame side members 66 are connected by frame cross members 90 to frame36. Frame cross members included threaded post 92, spacer cylinder 94,and threaded cap nuts 96, threaded post 92 extending through crossmember receiving bores 98 (see FIG. 5) and secured by threaded cap nuts96. Spring anchor bar 88 is a spacer cylinder mounted by anchor barthreaded post 124 extending through anchor post receiving bores 128 inframe side members 66 and secured by anchor bar threaded end cap nuts126.

As described above, rear axle assembly 70 includes a rear axle 110 (seeFIG. 5), frustoconical shaped elastomeric mountings 114, elastomericmounting outer washers 116, elastomeric mounting inner washers 118 andrear axle central spacer 120 the wheels 72 being secured on rear axle110 by threaded end cap nuts 122. As seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, axleassembly 70 is mounted between frame side members through rear axlebores which fit over the tapered outer walls of respective elastomericmountings 114. When the skater S turns into a curve, the elastomericmountings 114 allow frame 36 and thereby the boot 38 to lean into thecurve, while rear wheels 72 remain on the skating surface, providingskater S with improved balance and traction during execution of thecurve.

Referring to FIG. 6, there is shown a detail view of the brake controlsystem and belt of FIG. 1. As described above, brake control system 14includes a grip device having a hand grip 18 and a hand lever 20 mountedon brake control body 24 having brake body cable sheath connectors andstops 28 for operation of the Bowden-type cables 32. Belt 150 havingbuckle 152 is conveniently worn around the waist W of a skater S, belt150 having a spring-type holster 154 which holds grip 18 when not inuse. The grip 18 is conveniently held within the easy grasp of theskater's hand H for removal from the holster 154 for application of thebrakes during skating. Cable guide 156 is conveniently mounted on belt150 by fasteners 158 for keeping Bowden cables 32 close to the body toavoid snagging on limbs or structures during skating.

It is understood that the present invention is not limited to theembodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodimentswithin the scope of the following claims.

1. A three-wheeled skate system, comprising: a pair of boots, each ofthe boots having a sole defining a toe and a heel; an elongated frameextending along each of the soles, each of the frames having a toe plateand a heel plate attached to the toe and the heel, respectively, of thecorresponding boot, each of the frames having spaced side membersextending the length thereof and forming a respective toe portion and aheel portion, the toe portions extending downward from, and forward of,each of the toes of the boots, respectively; a front wheel axle assemblymounted on the toe portion of each of the frames, respectively, each ofthe axle assemblies having a front wheel mounted for rotation thereonbetween the spaced side members of the boots; a rear wheel axle assemblymounted on the heel portion of each of the frames, respectively, each ofthe rear wheel assemblies having a pair of rear wheels mounted forrotation thereon outside the spaced side members of the frame; a brakeunit attached to each of the frames, respectively, each of the brakeunits having a pair of brake shoes mounted for selective frictionalengagement with each of the rear wheels, respectively; and a brakecontrol system connected to each of the brake units, respectively, eachof the brake control systems having: a handgrip; a lever pivotallyattached to the handgrip, the lever pivoting between a brake releaseposition and a brake engaged position; and a pair of Bowden cablesextending between the lever and the brake unit, the cables acting toselectively engage the brake shoes with the rear wheels in order tocontrol rotation of the wheels in response to pivoting the leverrelative to the handgrip.
 2. The three-wheeled skate system according toclaim 1, wherein the toe portion of each of said frames has first andsecond pairs of axle-receiving bores defined therein, the second pair ofaxle-receiving bores being located above and to the rear of the firstpair of axle receiving bores, said front axle assemblies beingselectively mounted in the first pair of axle-receiving bores forcruising style of skating, and being selectively mounted in the secondpair of axle-receiving bores for speed skating, forward cant of saidboots being increased when the front axle assemblies are mounted in thesecond pair of axle-receiving bores.
 3. The three-wheeled skate systemaccording to claim 1, further including a belt adapted for being wornabout a user's waist, the belt having: a buckle mounted on one end ofthe belt for adjusting to the waist size of the user; a holster mountedon the belt for holding said handgrip when not in use; and a cable guidemounted on the belt for keeping said Bowden cables close to the user'sbody in order to avoid snagging said cables on limbs and structuresduring skating.
 4. The three-wheeled skate system according to claim 1,wherein each of said rear axle assemblies is mounted through and betweensaid frame side members, respectively, each of said rear axle assembliesfurther comprising: a rear axle, said pair of rear wheels being mountedon the rear axle on the outside of said frame side members; elastomericmounting outer washers disposed on the rear axle between each of saidrear wheels and each said frame side member; elastomeric mountingsdisposed on the rear axle between each of said elastomeric mountingouter washers and each said frame side member; elastomeric mountinginner washers disposed on the rear axle between said frame side members;and a rear axle central spacer disposed on said rear axle between eachof said elastomeric mounting inner washers; wherein the elastomericmountings permit said frames and said boots to lean into a curve whilesaid rear wheels remain on a skating surface, thereby providing a userwith improved balance and traction during execution of a curve.
 5. Thethree-wheeled skate system according to claim 4, wherein the heelportion of each of the side members of said frames have rear axle boresdefined therein, said elastomeric mountings being generallyfrustoconical in shape and being held within the rear axle bores.
 6. Thethree-wheeled skate system according to claim 1, wherein said brake unitfurther comprises: a lever axle mounted for rotation between the sidemembers of said frame, said brake shoes being mounted on opposite endsof the lever axle; a brake shoe lever fixed to, and extending normalfrom, the lever axle for rotation therewith, one of said pair of Bowdencables being attached to the brake shoe lever; a spring anchor barextending between the side members of said frame; and a brake springhaving a first end attached to the spring anchor bar and a second endattached to the brake shoe lever, the brake spring biasing said brakeshoes away from contact with said rear wheels when the brake unit leveris in the brake release position.
 7. A three-wheeled skate, comprising:a boot having a sole defining a toe and a heel; an elongated frameextending along said sole and having a toe plate and a heel plateattached to said toe and said heel, respectively; said elongated framehaving spaced side members extending the length thereof and forming arespective toe portion and a heel portion; said toe portions extendingdownward from and forward of said toe of said boot; a front wheel axleassembly and a front wheel; said toe portion supporting said front wheelaxle assembly supporting said front wheel mounted for rotation betweensaid spaced side members at a point downward from and forward of saidtoe of said boot; a rear wheel axle assembly and a pair of rear wheels;said heel portion respectively supporting said rear wheel axle assemblysupporting said pair of rear wheels mounted for rotation on respectiveouter sides of said spaced side members of said frame; a brake unitattached to said frame having a pair of brake shoes mounted forselective frictional engagement with said pair of rear wheels; and, abrake control system comprising a lever and a grip device acting on aBowden cable, said cable extending to said brake unit and acting toselectively engage said brake shoes with said rear wheels so as tocontrol rotation of said wheels in response to rotating said leverrelative to said grip device.
 8. The three-wheeled skate according toclaim 7, further comprising: first and second pairs of axle receivingbores located in said toe portions of said front frames, respectively,each said second pair of axle receiving bores being located above and tothe rear of respective said first pair of axle receiving bores, saidfront axle assembly being selectively mounted in said first pair of axlereceiving bores for cruising style of skating and in said second pair ofaxle receiving bores, thereby increasing the forward cant of saidrespective boots for speed skating.
 9. The three-wheeled skate accordingto claim 7, wherein said rear axle assembly is mounted through andbetween said frame side members, said rear axle assembly furthercomprising: a rear axle for mounting said pair of rear wheels on theoutside of each of said frame side members; elastomeric mounting outerwashers on said rear axle between each of said rear wheels and saidframe side members; elastomeric mountings on said rear axle between eachof said elastomeric mounting outer washers and the outside of each ofsaid frame side members; elastomeric mounting inner washers on said rearaxle adjacent to the inside of each of said frame side members; and, arear axle central spacer on said rear axle between each of saidelastomeric mounting inner washers between the inside of each of saidframe side members; wherein said elastomeric mountings allow said frameand said boot to lean into a curve while said rear wheels remain on askating surface providing a user with improved balance and tractionduring execution of a curve.
 10. The three-wheeled skate according toclaim 9, wherein said elastomeric mountings are generally frustoconicalin shape and are held within conforming receiving bores in said heelportion of said frame side members.
 11. The three-wheeled skateaccording to claim 7, wherein said 2 brake unit further comprises: abrake-actuating lever connected to one of said pair of Bowden cables; anactuating lever axle connected to and allowing rotation of said brakeactuating lever; a brake shoe connector for fixedly connecting said pairof brake shoes to each other to respond to rotation of said actuatinglever axle; and, a brake release spring attached between said brakeactuating lever and a spring anchor bar extending between said heelportion of said frame side members; whereupon when said Bowden cable isreleased, said brake release spring is extended, rotating saidbrake-actuating lever and said brake shoes away from engagement withsaid rear wheels allowing them to rotate freely.
 12. The three-wheeledskate according to claim 11, wherein said actuating lever axle and saidbrake shoe connector are one in the same.
 13. The three-wheeled skateaccording to claim 7, further comprising a sheath connection mountedthrough said sole of said boot for receiving said cable to connect tosaid brake unit.